X h hope electric



(No Model.) A. WRIGHT.

ELECTRIC SWITCH AND CASE.

No. 482,936. Patented Sept. 20, 1892.

azmqzw UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUSTUS WRIGHT, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE HOPEELECTRIC APPLIANCE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

ELECTRIC SWITCH AND CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 482,936, datedSeptember 20, 1892.

Application filed May 31,1892. Serial No. 434,882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, AUGUSTUS WRIGHT, of the city of Providence, in thecounty of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Electric Switches and Cases forContaining and Protecting the Same; and I hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of thisspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in electric switches and casesfor containing and protecting the same, being an improvement on theswitch shown and described in United States Letters Patent- No. 468,125,granted to me February 2, 1892.

The object of this invention is to produce an electric switch in whichthe movement of a lever in one direction slightly past the center willcall into action a spring or springs to carry the shaft on which thecontact-block is secured to its farthest point of rotation in thatdirection and to positively switch the current from one set ofcontact-posts to the other.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rotatable contact-blockfor electric switches which shall be more compact in shape and moredurable and certain in operation.

The further object of this invention is to provide a durable case inwhich the switch and its operating mechanism may be contained and fullyprotected from the weather.

The invention consists in the combination, with the shaft carrying thecontact-block, of an arm pivoted by links to guide-blocks or guide-links suitably pivoted, these guide links or blocks being drawntogether by a spring or springs to force the contact-block positively tothe farthest point of rotation in the direction in which movement pastthe center has commenced.

The invention also consists in the peculiar construction of the rotatingcontact-block provided with expansible contact-plates and thecombination therewith of suitable contact-posts adapted to be connectedthereby.

The invention further consists in the peculiar case for containing andprotecting the switching and operating mechanism, as well as other novelfeatures of construction and combination of parts, which willhereinafter be more fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 represents a front view of the casing and the contact block andposts contained therein, the cover of the case being removed. Fig. 2represents a vertical sectional view of the case, the electric switchcontained therein, and the mechanism for op erating the switch. Fig. 3represents a back view of the case, the back being removed to show theimproved switch-operating mechanism.

Similar numbers and letters of reference designate corresponding partsthroughout.

In the drawings, 5 indicates a case having a hinged cover 6, into theedge of which a packing '7 is inserted. The bottom and sides of the caseare furnished with the inlets 8 8, which may be cast in part with thesame, or may be formed of insulating material and inserted therein. Thesides have also the securing-lips 9 9, through holes in which screws maybe driven. The bottom of the case has a depending plate 10, and at theupper portion of the case is formed the hollow hood 11, adapted toprotect the operating mechanism and to allow of the free upward movementof the same. Extending from this hood is a securing-lip 12. The back ofthe case is formed by the plate 13, shaped to fit the inner edges of thesame and having at its lower end the securing-lip 1a and the curvedflange 15, which partially closes the space between the edge of theplate 10 and the back plate 13, leaving a narrow slot, through which theoperatinglever extends. The inner surfaces of the case are furnished onthe sides with the supporting and securing lugs 16 and 17 and the topand bottom with the ledges 18.

The switching mechanism is secured to a plate orblock 19, of slate orother suitable insulating material, which is fastened in place by screwsor bolts passing through the lugs 17. At suitable points on this plateare secured the contact -posts and 21, carrying contact-plates, to whichwires extending into the case may be connected. The center of the plate19 is perforated, and a hearing is inserted in the perforation, andjournaled in this hearing is a shaft 22. The rotative contact-block 23is formed, substantially in the shape shown, of insulating material andis secured to the outer end of the shaft 22 by small bolts, the ends ofwhich are fastened in a flange, with which this end of the shaft isprovided, and in the plate 24. The contact-block 23 is also furnishedwith the expansible contact-plates 25 and 26, by each of which aconnection is formed between two of the contact-plates on the posts 20and 21, the expansibility of the plates being assisted by the coiledsprings 27, partially contained in sockets in the edge of the block 23.

The rear end of the shaft 22 is rigidly secured to the lever 28, bywhich the rotation of the switch-block is ordinarily commenced, thelower portion of this lever extending through the slot left between theflange 15 and the plate 10.

The lever 28 has an extension 29, and to the end of this extension ispivoted the link 30, the upper end of which is pivoted to the link 31,this in turn being pivoted to a stud secured to the back of theintermediate partition or plate 19. The pivot extending through the endsof the links 30 and 31 is also sometimes secured to a guide-blockmovable in a guide 32, which is secured to the back of the plate 19 orto the inner surface of the hood 11.

At a distance on thelever 28 from the point where the shaft 22 issecured equal to the length of the extension 29 is pivoted a link 34,which is in turn pivoted to the link 33, that being pivoted to a stud onthe rear face of the plate 19. To the pivots a, connecting the links 30and 31, and 1), connecting those marked 33 and 34, are secured the endsof the coiled spring 35, the tension of which tends to continually drawthese pivots A and B to ward the center. By dispensing with the links 33and 34 and securing the lower end of the coiled spring 35 to the stud 36on the lever I have practically the same operating mechanism and alsogain space at the lower end of the case.

\Vhen the switch is to be of small size and the spring 35 is not toostrong, I sometimes shorten the lever 28 to a point immediately beyondthe pivot, securing the link 31L thereto, and operate the contact-blockby means of the handle 37, secured to the plate 2-l in the forwardportion of the case. By this means I am able to dispense with the slotthrough which the lever 28 extends and better protect the operatingmechanism.

It is apparent that the slide 32 may be omitted, if desired; or, whenthe lever 28 is shortened and the handle 37 is used, the link Sat may bepivoted to the upper surface of the lever and the pivot b be providedwith a block sliding in a similar guide.

\Vhen the lever 28 is moved past the center, the spring 35 will beelongated and by its subsequent contraction will draw the lever over tothe side of the box opposite to that from which motion was commenced.The contactblock 23 will also be rotated and the expansible plates 25will switch the circuit from the posts 20 to those marked 21., or viceversa.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. In a switching device, the combination, with thecase 5, having the cover (3 hinged thereto, a depending plate 10, anupwardlyextending hood 11, a back 13, having the flange 15, and the lugs16 and 17, extending from the inner surface of the case, of thepartition or plate 19, formed of insulating material, and a switchingdevice carried on said plate, as described.

2. In an electric switching device, the combination, with contact-postsand a rotatable block carrying contact plates, of a lever adapted torotate said block, links pivoted to said lever, other links pivoted tothe free ends of the first-mentioned links and to stationary studs, anda spring adapted to exert an inward pressure on the ends of thefirst-mentioned links, as described.

3. In an electric switching device, the combination, with posts carryingcontacts, a block carrying connecting-plates, and a shaft suitablyjournaled, to which said block is secured, of the lever 28, secured tosaid shaft andhaving the extension 25), a link 30, pivoted to saidextension, a link 31, pivoted to the free end of the link 30 and to astationary stud, the link 34;, pivoted to the lever, a link 33, pivotedto said link and to a stationary stud, and a spring 35, secured at itsends to the pivots A and B, as described.

4. In an electric switch, the combination, with a base, contact-postssecured thereto, a shaft journaled in a perforation in said base, ablock having connection plates secured to said shaft, and a handle 37for rotating the same, of a lever secured to said shaft at the endopposite the block, double links pivoted to the ends of said lever andto stationary studs, and means for exerting a contracting strain on thepivots connecting each pair of links, as described.

5. The combination, with the case 5, having a hinged cover, a dependingplate 10, an upwardly-extending hood 11, a back 13, having the flange15, and the lugs 16 and 17, extending from the inner surface of thecase, of the insulating-partition 19, a switching device secured theretoand operated by a shaft journaled in a perforation in said partition, alever 28, secured to the end of said shaft, an extension 29 on saidlever, a link 30, pivoted to said extension, a second link 31, pivotedto IIO the link 30 and to a stud on the partition, In witness whereof Ihave hereunto set my the link 34:, pivoted. to the lever 28, the linkhand. 33, pivoted to the link 34: and to a stud on the partition and thespring 35, the ends of which AUGUSTUS WRIGHT 5 are secured to the pivotsconnecting the links WVitnesses:

30 and 31 and 33 and 34, as and for the pur- HENRY J. MILLER,

pose described. M. F. BLIGH.

